Not in the mood for antics as the calendar flips to April? You're not the only one. But through the years, the Huskers have dipped into their bag of tricks countless times to rip off pivotal touchdowns or large chunks of yardage.Â
Here's a look at memorable Nebraska football trick plays, in no particular order:Â
Fumblerooski (1984)Â
Trailing Miami 17-0 in the first quarter of the Orange Bowl, Tom Osborne dove deep into his call sheet. Quarterback Turner Gill, who lined up under center, intentionally fumbled the snap, allowing Nebraska lineman Dean Steinkuhler to pick up the ball and run 19 yards for a much-needed touchdown, effectively fooling the Miami defense (and the camera crew).
Black 41 Flash Reverse (2001)
Another classic scene in the program's history, the Huskers sealed a key win against Oklahoma with a play that Steven M. Sipple recently recalled as perhaps bringing the loudest reaction he has heard from the Memorial Stadium faithful. Heisman quarterback and recent College Football Hall of Fame inductee Eric Crouch took the snap and handed the ball to Thunder Collins, who pitched it to freshman receiver Mike Stuntz on a reverse back to the left side of the field. You know the rest.Â
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Fakin' the field goal (1977)
Before a thunderous crowd of 75,899 at Memorial Stadium, the Huskers handed Alabama its lone loss of the season on Sept. 17, 1977. Trailing 7-3 in the first quarter, the Huskers turned the tide by refusing to settle for another field goal, instead opting for a fake field goal that worked to perfection.Â
Reverse pass (2014)
As the Huskers lined up for a first-and-10 in the closing moments of the second quarter, a Big Ten Network commentator uttered: "They (Nebraska) look confused to me." Turns out, those in red knew exactly what they were doing, as Tommy Armstrong started the play under center and ended it with a wide-open path to the end zone.Â
Others of note:Â
* In a showdown with Oklahoma in 1982, Nebraska ran the "bouncerooski," where quarterback Turner Gill bounced a lateral to Irving Fryar, who scooped the ball and passed it to tight end Mitch Krenk, who picked up 37 yards and set up a decisive NU touchdown.
* In a game that featured several unique play designs, the Huskers went outside of the box during a 37-14 win against Colorado on Nov. 24, 2006, at Memorial Stadium. Initially lining up in punt formation, Husker quarterback Zac Taylor audibled the group into a regular formation. He then walked away from the center, feigning confusion. Meanwhile, Nebraska snapped the ball to Tierre Green, who went 7 yards to set up a touchdown that effectively put the game out of reach.Â
* In a bright spot from the past season, Nebraska trounced Maryland 54-7 on Nov. 23 in College Park. In the second quarter, Luke McCaffrey, who drew pregame headlines for reportedly taking practice repetitions at wide receiver, lined up wide as if he was going out for a pass. Instead, he curled into the backfield, received a pitch and fired a strike on the run to JD Spielman for a 28-yard gain.Â
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